Improvement in sleeve-buttons



WI BOURKE. Sleeve-Button.

No.204,706. P atent ed June 11,1878.

- NPETERS. PHOTGLITNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, By C PATENT- QFFICE.

WILLIAM BOURKE, OFNEW YORK, N.'Y.

SLEEVE- BUTTONS.

I Specification formiu g part of Letters Patent No. 204,706, datedJune .11, 1578; application filed 1 J anuary 28, 1878.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WIL IAM BOURKE, of New York city, countyof New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleeve Buttons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved button, the upper and lower parts hein g arranged with respect to each other as they should be when the cuff or other article is properly buttoned. Fig. 2 is a perspective View Fig. 3, a side elevation; and Fig. 4 another perspective view, showing the basepiece as it appears when moved along upon the shank for the purpose of passing it through the button-holes. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the top-piece and its shank, the base being detached therefrom. Fig. 6 is an axial section of the button complete, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the base-piece detached from the shank.

Like letters in all the figures indicate cor responding parts.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple and cheap button, which shall be capable of being readily used to connect cuffs or other similar articles, which, from their nature or thickness, render it difficult to insert the ordinary form'of sleeve-button; and the invention consists in certain novel arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

A is the top of the button, and B the shank. O is the base-piece, ordinarily made smaller than the top, andintended to be passed through the button-holes.

The difficulties experienced in the use of the ordinary sleeve-button, when attempting to connect the ends of highly-starched cuii's or similar semi-rigid materials, are very well understood; and they are well known to be attributable to the fact that the shank and basepiece are rigidly connected at right angles with each other. To overcome these ditticulties, I make the base-piece O of two plates, a and b, separated a little distance, sufficient to accommodate the pin a, which is connected with the lower extremity of shank B. In the plate a, whichis nearest the top plate, I cut a slot, d, running fromv the perimeter to a point a'little past the center, and sufliciently wide to accommodate the shanlfibut not wide enough to permit pin 0 to draw out. The two parts a and b are connected after the pin 0 has been properly located between them; and when the parts are all united,-substantially as shown in the drawings, it will be observed that, in order to force the lower piece of the button through the button-hole, it will be only necessary to slide it along upon the shank, as represented in Fig. 2, allow it to drop down, as in Figs. 3 and 4, and then push it directly through. The material should then be crowded up upon the shank, and the base returned to position shown in Fig. 1.

The two plates composing the base are placed as near each other as necessary to properly retain the cross-pin, and, in order that the lower plate will not interfere with the dropping down of the base, it (the lower plate) is provided with a short slot cut in a radial direction, and a distance toward the center about equal to half the width of the shank.

By making the shank flat, as represented, it is prevented from revolving in the narrow slot d,- and the base 0 being of two plates enables me to retain the lower one uncut, except a distance equal to half the width of the shank, which is necessary in order that said shank will not interfere with the dropping of the base, and thus make a neater article.

Should the pin a work too freely between plates to and b, one of them may be indented at or near the center, as shown in Fig. 7, and the pin 0 be confined in this indentation by pressure of the other plate when the shank is moved to its proper position.

The method of hinging the base to the shank -i. 0., so that it will drop down, as indicated in Figs. 2,3, and 4-is found to render the button quite serviceable, and to be a veritable improvement upon other styles of button fasteners.

Should occasion require, I propose to hinge the top plate to the shank instead of the base, preserving the general principles of the invention.

I am aware of various styles of button-fast eners, the most prominent of which are such what I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sleeve-button, the combination, with plate A, of shank B, having cross-pin c, which is retained in a base, O, both plates of which are slotted in a radial direction, as explained,

said shank'bein g adapted to be moved in said slotted base from center to circumference, substantially as shown and described.

2. The herein-described base for buttons, the same being composed of two plates, one of which is slotted from its circumference to its center, for the purpose of confining the end of the button-shank, and the other cut away, so as to permit the base to be moved along and dropped in line with the shank, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my handgin the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM BOURKE.

Witnesses:

TRUMAN P. DOANE, l). R. STANFORD. 

